Wall and Ceiling Vapor Barriers
Wall and Ceiling Vapor Barriers are an effective way to reduce moisture infiltration. These vapor barriers are typically installed on the inside of the outer wall between the interior surface. Lacking a vapor barrier will cause warm interior air to meet cold air from the outside walls. Condensation forms in these conditions, making it the ideal environment for the growth of harmful mold and bacteria.
To protect your projects consider using high-quality wall and ceiling vapor barriers, insulation barriers, and fire retardant plastic sheeting from Americover.
What Type of Vapor Barrier is Recommended for Walls and Ceilings?
Not all plastic sheeting materials can be considered a vapor barrier for walls and ceilings. Builders using plastic sheeting must meet certain requirements for this application:
- Standard 6 mil thickness polyethylene plastic sheeting
- Must meet ASTM requirements
- Must be Class A and maintain a 0.1 permeability
- Must be puncture-resistant
What Does Permeability Mean?
Builders need to use plastic sheeting with a permeability rating of less than 1 to use as a vapor barrier. View the graph to the right to learn more about perm ratings for plastic sheeting or watch a tutorial video here.
Wall Vapor Barrier Placement
Different climate zones will require vapor barriers in certain areas during construction. Below is a list of placements in specific climates where a builder should use a vapor barrier:
- Areas with very cold climates – between insulation and wallboard
- Areas with high humidity – greenhouses, bathrooms
- Very hot and humid climates – at the exterior wall
- Below-grade walls or slabs – against the permeable surface
- Crawl spaces – directly above the exposed ground
High Quality Wall and Ceiling Vapor Barriers
String Reinforced Plastic Sheeting Products
Dura-Skrim® Reinforced Plastic Sheeting products are heavy-duty construction films for indoor and outdoor applications. View our selection of Dura-Skrim® products below.
Fire Retardant String Reinforced Plastic Sheeting
Dura-Skrim® Fire Retardant Reinforced Plastic Sheeting is a puncture-resistant construction film reinforced with a layer of polyester scrim to prevent tearing.
Radiant Barrier Insulation Products
Barrier insulation products are used to reflect heat for roofing systems, new or retrofit house-wraps, radiant heat flooring, and OEMs. View our selection of products below.
Tuff Scrim™ Reinforced Poly Sheeting
Tuff-Scrim Poly reinforced plastic sheeting is available in 6 mil, 8 mil, 12 mil, 14 mil, and 20 mil. It has a high-strength cord grid between layers of lldpe film to provide a heavy-duty material.
VaporBlock® 20 Plus
If you require a radon barrier, we recommend the 20 mil VAPORBLOCK® PLUS vapor barrier. It is a duel-sided gold and white, seven-layer, coextruded barrier with EVOH resins resistant to radon, methane, and moisture transmission.
Featured Accessories
A continuous wall and ceiling vapor barrier is the most effective against moisture control, but in most cases the material has to be cut to size, so using the appropriate tape to overlap seams and seal holes is very important. Americover supplies 2 Sided Butyl Tape as well as Vapor Tape for these applications.
White Fire Retardant Tape
225FR White Fire Retardant Tape is a waterproof flame retardant cloth tape that adheres to a variety of substrates including steel and plastic.
Reinforced Repair Tape
Reinforced Repair Tape is a cost effective solution designed to extend the life of your greenhouse cover if it is damaged by flying storm debris or snow overload.
Butyl Tape
35mil thick double sided black rubber tape used to adhere overlapping panels of vapor barriers or vapor retarders together.
Vapor Tape
Heavy Duty, weather resistant, white sealing tape with a acrylic adhesive used for seaming large panels of vapor retarder.
Check out our online selection of specialty plastic building solutions. Contractors and distributors are eligible for special pricing and volume-based discounts on select products, call us at 760-237-8786. Our online inventory is just our retail selection, which means we can often source items you may not see here.
Contractors and Builders Talk About Americover
When you partner with Americover, you benefit from our industry and product application knowledge. But don’t take it from us. Take it from those in the building industry who have relied on our quality and reliability over the years.
Wall & Ceiling Vapor Barrier Resources
Americover’s Product Catalog
Browse our full inventory of vapor barrier and crawlspace encapsulation liner products.
DS2FR & 10FR In Wall Installation Guidelines
Everything you need to know about installing a wall vapor retarder.
Crawl Space Code Requirements For Vapor Barriers 15 September, 2022 Because a large percentage of breathable air in a residential building comes from the crawl space, it is crucial to use a vapor barrier in your encapsulation that meets crawl space code requirements. Air ventilation and moisture control are critical components of keeping a crawl space free from mold, mildew,… 
What is the Best Vapor Barrier to Use Under Concrete Slabs? 1 September, 2022 In the 2021 edition of the International Residential Code (IRC), the guidelines were revised to recommend a minimum 10 mil vapor barrier for use under concrete slabs in residential buildings instead of a 6 mil. The American Concrete Institute (ACI) also recommends a minimum of 10 mil polyethylene or thicker… 
Vapor Barrier Tips: When Should I Use a 20 mil Vapor Barrier? 25 August, 2022 20 mil vapor barriers are the thickest vapor barrier used in crawl spaces and under slab applications. While mil thickness designates a specific thickness to plastic sheeting, other variables, such as tensile strength, permeance, and string-reinforcement will determine which vapor barrier is best for your project. Class A, B, and…